The chairman of the Denver County Republicans is challenging Democrat Diana DeGette[4] in the 1st Congressional District, a place where Republicans haven’t won in decades.

Danny Stroud cites the national debt, flawed foreign policy and an unchecked growth of government as some of the reasons, among others, as to why he is running in a district that is 45 percent Democrat and 20 percent Republican.

DeGette, the most senior of the Colorado delegation, has held the seat since 1997.

“I am running for Congress because we need representation, now more than ever, that is solely focused on Coloradans’ needs,” said Stroud in a statement. “We can no longer endure those that curry favor with special interests and party leadership to propel their careers and advance an out-of-touch agenda.”

A graduate of West Point, Stroud spent 13 years in the military before moving into the businesses sector. He currently heads a small IT company in Denver.